1. After Her Condition Worsened, She and Her Family Came to China

The 44-year-old patient from Kazakhstan was admitted to our hospital in February 2026. By that time, bone metastases from breast cancer had already caused persistent and severe pain. The metastatic lesions involved the thoracic and lumbar spine, resulting in pronounced pain throughout the chest and back. Turning over in bed was painful, sitting up was painful, and even walking caused significant discomfort. She struggled to perform even the simplest daily activities, and her pain intensity reached 7–9 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). According to her family, she had previously sought treatment at another hospital, where, after evaluation, they were informed that her disease had reached the terminal stage and that no effective treatment options remained. As her pain continued to worsen, she became almost completely bedridden and was no longer able to care for herself. Constant pain and progressive physical decline had taken a tremendous toll on her. Watching her condition deteriorate day by day, her family became increasingly distressed. Their greatest fear was that she would soon lose even the ability to sit up, turn over in bed, or move independently. Holding on to one final hope, they accompanied her on the journey to China, where she sought treatment at Jinshazhou Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.

Figure 1. At the time of her first admission, severe cancer pain left the patient unable to sit upright, confining her to bed

Soon after admission, the professor, department director, and medical team conducted bedside rounds. For a patient whose most pressing problems were excruciating pain and prolonged bed confinement, the immediate priority was to identify a treatment strategy that could relieve her pain as quickly as possible and restore her basic mobility. Further evaluation revealed that the largest lesion in the right breast measured approximately 3.1 × 1.9 × 2.7 cm. Bone metastases had extensively involved the thoracic and lumbar spine, with significant vertebral involvement, placing the patient at considerable risk of skeletal-related complications. To protect the affected vertebrae and minimize the risk of injury during movement, the medical team recommended that she wear a lumbar support brace. Because of the severe pain in her lower back, the medical staff took exceptional care while helping her put on the brace. They carefully adjusted its position while closely observing her response, making every effort to minimize the discomfort caused by each movement, every turn in bed, and every attempt to provide support.

Figure 2. The medical team assisting the patient with fitting a lumbar support brace

2. We Did More Than Relieve Her Pain — We Developed a Treatment Plan Tailored Specifically for Her

After all necessary examinations had been completed, the medical team convened a multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation. For patients with such a complex condition, severe pain, and markedly impaired mobility, a single treatment modality is often insufficient. After comprehensively evaluating the imaging findings, pain severity, extent of bone metastases, the patient's overall physical condition and treatment tolerance, as well as nursing support requirements, the MDT developed a staged comprehensive treatment plan tailored to her individual needs. The treatment strategy was straightforward. The first step was interventional arterial infusion chemotherapy, allowing anticancer drugs to be delivered directly into the arteries supplying the tumor, thereby reducing the tumor burden and relieving compression of the surrounding tissues. This was followed by precision radiotherapy using the TrueBeam linear accelerator, targeting multiple bone metastatic lesions while carefully controlling both the radiation dose and treatment field. Throughout the entire treatment course, standardized cancer pain management, bone-protective therapy, nutritional support, and psychological care were provided to help the patient complete this stage of treatment as safely and successfully as possible.

Figure 3. Multidisciplinary consultation (MDT)

Following the MDT consultation, the department director, the interpreter, and the patient's family met again to discuss the proposed treatment plan in detail before making the final decision. For patients traveling from overseas to receive medical care in China, it is equally important that their families fully understand the treatment strategy. Only when every aspect of the plan is clearly explained and each step is thoroughly understood can families feel reassured, allowing treatment to proceed more smoothly.

Figure 4. The medical team and interpreter discussing the treatment plan with the patient's relative

3. From Interventional Therapy to Radiotherapy: She Was Finally Able to Sit Up Again

On February 7, 2026, the patient underwent her first session of interventional arterial infusion chemotherapy. Following the procedure, the medical team closely monitored changes in her pain, physical condition, and local treatment-related reactions, while preparing her for the subsequent course of radiotherapy.

Figure 5. The professor and medical team conducting bedside rounds following the interventional procedure

On February 10, 2026, the patient began a course of TrueBeam precision radiotherapy, completing a total of 10 treatment sessions. Throughout the treatment, the medical team carefully controlled the radiation field and dose to minimize exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues, while continuously monitoring her pain score, vital signs, and treatment-related reactions to ensure that the entire course proceeded safely and smoothly.
As treatment progressed, a noticeable change began to emerge. By the fifth and sixth radiotherapy sessions, the patient - who had previously been confined to bed - was gradually able to sit up on her own, and her cancer-related pain had been significantly relieved. This improvement was immediate and tangible, marking the first moment when everyone involved could truly see the hope that treatment had brought. As her condition continued to improve, her family's emotions also gradually shifted from anxiety and uncertainty to relief and reassurance.

Figure 6. Group photograph taken after the seventh radiotherapy session, as the patient and her family smile with relief and joy

4. From Sitting Up to Standing and Moving Again: Every Step Forward Was a Shared Effort

By the later stage of radiotherapy, the patient was first able to sit up again, and soon afterward gradually regained the ability to get out of bed and move around. Her overall mental and emotional state also improved significantly.
By the later stage of radiotherapy, the patient was first able to sit up again, and soon afterward gradually regained the ability to get out of bed and move around. Her overall mental and emotional state also improved significantly.

Figure 7. The patient dancing to music in her hospital room

The patient's overall condition continued to improve steadily. Just four days after completing radiotherapy, she had recovered sufficiently to meet the discharge criteria. She was able to return home to continue her recovery and await her scheduled follow-up evaluation.

Figure 8. Group photograph of the patient with the medical team before discharge

5. As the Cancer Pain Subsided, the Tumor Also Showed a Favorable Response

On April 13, 2026, the patient returned to our hospital for follow-up evaluation. Imaging demonstrated that the lesion in the right breast had decreased in size to approximately 2.2 × 1.3 × 2.0 cm. These findings indicate that the benefits of this stage of treatment were reflected not only in the relief of cancer pain and the recovery of mobility, but also in objective radiological improvement. Based on the follow-up findings, the multidisciplinary team will continue to evaluate and determine the next stage of her treatment plan.